ISHMAEL F. MENKOR
Africa-Press – Liberia. The Committee for Peace and Development Advocacy (COPDA), a Civil Society Organization based in Yekepa, Nimba County has launched a project to engage mine-affected communities in identifying the impact of mining on their environment.
The Director of COPDA, Mr. Ted Brooks, emphasized the importance of involving the communities in order to identify issues and address them through a Redress Grievance strategy while working with AML.
He said, “Every day new issues emerge from the mine affected community about environmental impact from mining, so we want to get this done so that you become a part of solving the problem through Redress Grievance strategy, while we are working with AML.”
“We will have workshops to expose you to the MDA and other related mining issues,” he told the opinion leaders of the mine affected communities.
The most affected mining communities around the AML Concession are Zolowee, Mankinto, Sehyigeh, Bolo, Gbarpa. Lugbeyee, Bonah, and others.
“Through our efforts, the head of our network, the CDMC, was fortunate to attend the 2020 Nimba County Sitting as an Observer,” said Mr. Brooks.
“We will work with AML but we need you to be a part of finding solutions to your grievances;” Mr. Brooks said.
Funded by GIZ, the project, launched on October 6, aims to conduct workshops with the mine-affected communities to raise awareness about mining-related issues, including the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). COPDA has been collaborating with community leaders, particularly women, to empower them and provide training on effective engagement and advocacy for the benefits of the mine-affected community.
COPDA’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as they have been commended by the citizens of the affected communities for their continuous education and advocacy. Madam Helen Weanquoi, Chairlady of the Community Development Management Committee (CMDC), expressed gratitude for COPDA’s training, which has enabled them to advocate for their rights by engaging stakeholders of AML’s management.
However, she also expressed disappointment in the local leadership for not providing them with opportunities to voice their opinions in larger gatherings.
“At least today we speak among people all because COPDA continue training us to robust in speaking for our rights,” she said.
Overall, COPDA’s project seeks to foster sustainable solutions to the grievances of the mine-affected communities by involving them in the identification and resolution of environmental impacts caused by mining.
COPDA has been working with community leaders, especially women, training them on how to constructively engage their leaders so as to advocate on behalf of the mine community for more benefits. COPDA has undertaken some training for women to enable them to have a voice.
However, the citizens from the affected communities had praise COPDA for continually educating them on the issues of advocacy.
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